MEMOIRS OF THE NEW YORK BOTANICAL GARDEN. II3 



Gleditsia triacanthos L. 

 Seeds placed in a dark chamber in October, 1900, did not ger- 

 minate until March, after which growth proceeded very slowly. The 

 cotyledons were carried aloft attaining a total length of 15 mm., and 

 were ovate with an auriculate base. The upper, inner surfaces were 

 closely appressed. The cotyledons endured for about 60 days in 

 the dark chamber, when they were thrown off, and the first node of 

 the stem attained a length of 8 mm. bearing a pair of appressed 

 leaves, which did not unfold, but in which the pinnae were distinctly 

 visible. The hypocotyledonary stem attained a length of 18 cm., 

 which is about one and a half times'the length of the normal. The 

 root system formed in the dark was very sparse, being made up of a 

 tap root with a very few branches. The lower surfaces of the 

 cotyledons were furnished with stomata, the guard cells of which 

 were loaded with starch, and which were closed when examined in 

 water, being apparently not functional. The seedling perished after 

 the above development had been accomplished. 



Hemerocallis sp. 

 Bulbs of Hemei'ocallis placed in the dark room in early spring 

 after activity had begun in the open, showed an active development 

 which resulted in the formation of leaves 11. 5 cm. long. The upper 

 or inner surfaces remained closelya ppressed, and the entire leaf was 

 colored a pale yellow. The flower stalks or inflorescence gave no 

 indications of activity. 



Hicoria sp. 



A number of nuts from an unknown species of hickory were 

 placed in moist soil in March, 1900, and germinated in May of the 

 same year. The stems had reached a height of 40 cm. to 60 cm. in 

 June and were then checked by the high summer temperature, the 

 terminal buds being destroyed. In November of the same year a 

 renewed growth ensued after the summer resting period, and one 

 more of the original lot of nuts germinated. The apical buds of the 

 older plants being dead the lateral buds nearest awoke, and the 

 branches formed from them assumed the upright positions of the 

 main stems. Some etiolated specimens removed to the illuminated 

 room developed leaves resembling the customary forms in normal 

 cultures. Growth and development of the shoots continued until 

 March, 1901, thus showing that the seedlings were capable of an 



